Highlights
- Far Cry 6 has highlighted the need for a new direction in the Far Cry series, as the franchise has been trying to replicate the success of Far Cry 3 instead of innovating.
- Far Cry 7 is the studio's chance to show that it is willing to take risks and bring in new mechanics, ideas, and style to the series.
- The success of Far Cry 7 is in doubt due to recent developments, such as the departure of the executive director and the potential shift towards a controversial live-service approach.
Besides the Assassin's Creed franchise, Far Cry is probably Ubisoft's biggest series right now. Over the course of six mainline titles and multiple spin-offs, players have been whisked away on exciting sandbox adventures. While the gameplay has been solid throughout, the actual concept behind Far Cry feels a bit stuck in its ways. And if Far Cry 6 is anything to go by, fans of the franchise are looking for something new from this series.
Even though nothing has been officially announced yet, all eyes are on the rumored Far Cry 7 to see if it can deliver. However, the departure of creative director Dan Hay and rumors of a live-service approach have put that game's success in doubt. After Far Cry 6 showed many of the franchise's cracks, Far Cry 7 is the studio's chance to right the ship, but that may be easier said than done.
The Far Cry Series Needs New Life
After the first two Far Cry games tried to figure out the best approach, Far Cry 3 set a new standard for the sandbox franchise. Players fell in love with the story, the vast open world, and many of the game's mechanics. Because of this, it was met with critical acclaim and would go on to win numerous awards. To this day, it is still regarded as one of the best games ever made. And its success shaped the future of the franchise, for better or worse.
Since Far Cry 3, Ubisoft seems to be trying to chase that same success. Far Cry 4 was fun but also felt too much like its predecessor, Far Cry 5 started showing some cracks in the storytelling of the franchise, and Far Cry 6 did little to improve upon the concept in any way. At the same time, Far Cry Primal and Far Cry New Dawn tried something new with their settings, however, they too did little to actually reinvent the franchise.
It just feels like the Far Cry series has been trying to replicate Far Cry 3 since release rather than forge ahead with new ideas and concepts. This has led to a series of games that seem like the same thing with a new coat of paint, which has put some fans off of the series. While they still seem to be successful games, this trend cannot continue. It is time for the franchise to innovate, which is where Far Cry 7 comes in.
Far Cry 7 is the studio's chance to show audiences that it is willing to take a risk with the series. Instead of just doing Far Cry 3 once more, this game has to be the Assassin's Creed Origins of the Far Cry series. It needs to bring in new mechanics, new ideas, and even a whole new style. Doing so could breathe new life into this sandbox series, which could help it reach critical acclaim again.
That all sounds like a great idea, but recent developments may put the success of Far Cry 7 in doubt. For starters, the executive director behind the Far Cry series departed shortly after the release of Far Cry 6. While this could pave the way for a new style, it could also mean that the series loses itself a bit along the way. On top of that, Ubisoft seems to be going all in on the live-service market, which could mean that Far Cry 7 takes on a whole new controversial form.
After Far Cry 6, the seventh game has a lot to prove to audiences. If it receives mixed reviews like its predecessor, then the franchise could be in a bit of a tough spot. Alternatively, if it reinvents itself then it could lead to another fantastic experience. But, if that reinvention includes the live-service genre or something that lacks that Far Cry feel, then it could be dead on arrival. That puts Far Cry 7 against insurmountable odds, so hopefully it can push through.
Far Cry 7 is rumored to be in development.